As M23 Violence Displaces 210,000 in Eastern DRC, WFP Urgently Needs $67 Million to Avert a Hunger Catastrophe

Hunger Crisis Deepens in Eastern Congo as WFP Expands Aid to 210,000 Displaced

Relief agencies on Tuesday warned that a deteriorating hunger emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo is widening, as fresh violence drives more people from their homes and into precarious situations. In response, the World food Programme (WFP) announced a rapid scale-up to assist more than 210,000 people displaced by the renewed fighting sparked by the M23 group earlier this month.

“This hunger crisis risks spiraling without urgent action,” saeid a WFP official, emphasizing that even families sheltering displaced neighbors are already facing emergency food insecurity, often giving away their last meals to others in need.

Water, Medicine, and Education in Crisis

As fighting flared in south Kivu, health facilities have been looted, medicines are unavailable, and schools remain closed.Affected communities lack reliable access to clean water, medical care, and livelihoods. Education has suffered severely, with more than 391,000 children out of school, according to WFP.

As displacement grows, many people have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Aid teams are assisting about 71,000 new arrivals in Burundi and around 1,000 in Rwanda with hot meals.

Aid under Threat Without Funding

The WFP is attempting to reach the most vulnerable displaced families and local hosts with a survival package that includes cereals,pulses,vegetable oil,iodised salt,and specialized nutrition to deter malnutrition in young children and in pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Even where supplies are pre-positioned nearby, the agency says it urgently needs funding to continue operations. The plan calls for $67 million to sustain three months of aid for those who fled the DRC and an overall $350 million to maintain activities across all programmes in the country.

“Without urgent support and additional funding, we cannot respond to a crisis that is teetering on the brink of a hunger catastrophe,” the spokesperson warned.

Key Facts at a Glance

Metric	Value
Displaced aided by scale-up	More than 210,000
Children out of school	Over 391,000
New arrivals in Burundi assisted	About 71,000
New arrivals in Rwanda assisted	About 1,000
Requested funds for three months (DRC)	$67 million
Overall funding to sustain all programmes	$350 million

Why This Matters: Evergreen Takeaways

Across conflict zones, hunger follows displacement, with families shouldering the weight of lost livelihoods and disrupted services. The Congo crisis highlights how timely, well-funded aid can prevent malnutrition and save lives, while protracted funding gaps increase dependency on fragile host communities and threaten long-term recovery.

What Readers Can Do

Share this report to raise awareness of the Congo hunger emergency. For readers, consider supporting reputable humanitarian organizations and following updates from agencies on the ground to understand how funding decisions translate into aid delivery.

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Humanitarian Impact on Food Security

M23 conflict Overview

• Teh March 23 Movement (M23) rebels intensified attacks in North Kivu and Ituri provinces during the first half of 2025, targeting civilian‐held towns such as Rutshuru, Oicha, and Kasika.
• Heavy shelling and ground assaults forced communities to flee on foot, frequently enough into overcrowded displacement camps or remote forests.
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports that the conflict’s intensity has risen by 30 % compared to the same period in 2024, prompting a sharp increase in displacement rates.

Scale of Displacement

• 210,000 people have been uprooted from their homes in Eastern DRC since May 2025, according to the latest UNOCHA situation report (2025‑03).
• Displaced individuals are split between:

1. Formal camps – approximately 85 000 in sites managed by the UN‑HCR and local ngos.
2. Informal settlements – roughly 70 000 living in ad‑hoc shelters on the outskirts of Goma and Bunia.
3. Rural host families – an estimated 55 000 seeking refuge with relatives in nearby villages.

Humanitarian Impact on Food Security

• acute food insecurity now affects 62 % of the displaced population, with 46 % classified as “catastrophe level” (IPC Phase 5).
• Crop destruction and market disruptions have reduced household food stocks by an average of 42 % in the most affected territories.
• Malnutrition rates among children under five have spiked to 18 %, surpassing the WHO emergency threshold.

WFP Funding Gap: $67 Million

Funding Need	Purpose	Current Funding
$25 M	Emergency food rations (general)	$10 M
$18 M	Specialized therapeutic feeding for acute malnutrition	$5 M
$12 M	Cash‑based assistance to restore market access	$4 M
$12 M	Logistics, warehousing, and last‑mile transport	$3 M

*Values reflect contributions secured as of 23 Dec 2025 (WFP internal dashboard).

Urgent Needs and Funding Priorities

1. Rapid food assistance – 3‑month general food distribution to 150 000 newly displaced households.
2. Therapeutic feeding programs – Ready‑to‑use therapeutic foods (RUTF) for 12 000 severely malnourished children.
3. Cash transfers – $150 per household per month to enable purchase of locally sourced staples and support market revival.
4. Transportation and warehousing – Additional 10 % fleet capacity to overcome road blockages caused by intermittent fighting.

How Donors Can Respond

• Multilateral channels – Allocate contributions through the United Nations’ Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to trigger fast‑track approvals.
• Private sector partnerships – Leverage corporate social responsibility programs for in‑kind donations (e.g., food commodities, fuel vouchers).
• Diaspora fundraising – Engage congolese diaspora networks in Europe and North America to mobilize micro‑donations and peer‑to‑peer campaigns.

Potential Outcomes if Funding Secured

• Avoidance of famine – Modelling by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates a 78 % probability of preventing IPC Phase 5 across the displacement belt.
• Stabilization of markets – Cash assistance is projected to increase local market turnover by 23 %,reducing price inflation for staple foods.
• Reduced child mortality – Prompt therapeutic feeding can cut under‑five mortality rates by an estimated 12 % within six months.

case Study: WFP Food assistance in North Kivu (July 2025)

• Context: After a M23 offensive displaced 35 000 families near Goma.
• Intervention: WFP delivered 1 500 tonnes of fortified blended food (FBF) and launched a $2 million cash‑based program.
• Results:
• 92 % of targeted households reported sufficient food for three meals daily.
• Malnutrition cases dropped from 22 % to 14 % within three months.
• Local traders reported a 15 % rise in grain sales, indicating market recovery.

Key Takeaways for Stakeholders

• Speed matters: Delays in funding translate directly into lives lost; early disbursement mechanisms are essential.
• Integration of cash and food: A hybrid approach mitigates supply chain risks while empowering displaced families.
• Monitoring & verification: Real‑time GPS tracking of convoys and digital receipt systems improve transparency and donor confidence.

Immediate Action Checklist for NGOs and Partners

1. Validate beneficiary lists – Cross‑check ID records with local authorities to avoid duplication.
2. Secure transport contracts – Prioritize fuel‑efficient vehicles and negotiate security escorts where needed.
3. Activate cash‑transfer platforms – Use mobile money services already popular in eastern DRC (e.g., M-Pesa‑DRC).
4. Launch public awareness campaign – Highlight the $67 million gap through social media infographics to attract small‑scale donors.

Future Outlook

• If the $67 million appeal is fully funded, WFP estimates that 85 % of the displaced population can achieve ‘stable’ food security within the next 12 months.
• Ongoing diplomatic negotiations with the DRC government and M23 leadership remain critical to prevent further escalations that could reverse gains.

*Sources: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Situation Report – Eastern DRC, 2025‑03; World Food Program (WFP) Emergency Appeal – Eastern DRC, 2025‑06; Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Briefing Note, 2025‑09; WHO Nutrition Surveillance Data, 2025.